Preview Roundups
November 26, 2014
Portland at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
The Portland Trail Blazers seek to stretch their winning streak to nine games when they visit the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday. Portland slipped past winless Philadelphia on Tuesday after a sluggish first half. “The biggest lesson is how hard you have to play to win,” Portland coach Terry Stotts told reporters. “Every night is a challenge. To be able to come back against a team playing with desperation means a lot.”
Washington at Cleveland 7:00 PM ET
The Washington Wizards' status as a legitimate Eastern Conference contender might be in jeopardy if they suffer a second consecutive loss Wednesday against the host Cleveland Cavaliers. The Wizards have the second-best record in the East but were sloppy in a 106-102 home loss to Atlanta on Tuesday. Now they get a Cleveland team that also has something to prove after a disappointing start to the season.
Golden State at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
Stephen Curry got off to a slow start on the Golden State Warriors’ five-game road trip but quickly recovered to put up 40 points in the second stop. The Warriors will try to push their winning streak to seven straight and continue the best start in franchise history when they visit the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. The Magic are coming off a 32-point loss at Cleveland and are making a brief stop at home before hitting the road for a six-game trip.
Brooklyn at Philadelphia 7:00 PM ET
The Brooklyn Nets look to bounce back from their loss to the San Antonio Spurs when they conclude their three-game road swing against Philadelphia. It hasn't exactly been a November to remember for the Nets, who have lost six of their last seven games, and to make matters worse NBA commissioner Adam Silver publicly criticized the organization's "unhealthy" spending habits. However, relief should come in the form of the 76ers - a team Brooklyn has beaten in four of the past five meetings.
New York at Dallas 7:30 PM ET
The New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks partnered in a major trade last summer and they’ll face off Wednesday in Dallas for the first time since the six-player deal. Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton went to the Mavericks in exchange for Jose Calderon, Samuel Dalembert, Shane Larkin and Wayne Ellington. Chandler was the biggest piece in the puzzle, as he was the NBA defensive player of the year in 2011-12 and an All Star the following season, both while in New York.
Toronto at Atlanta 7:30 PM ET
The Atlanta Hawks hope to complete a sweep of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference when they host the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. The Hawks held off Washington, which owns the second-best record in the East, for a 106-102 win Tuesday. Next up is a visit from the Raptors, who are tied for the NBA's best mark after winning five straight and 10 of 11.
L.A. Clippers at Detroit 7:30 PM ET
The Los Angeles Clippers have found their offensive rhythm on the road, a pattern they look to continue Wednesday at Detroit. The highest-scoring team in the league last season, Los Angeles has been a middle-of-the-pack offensive unit for much of 2014-15 and was limited to fewer than 90 points in two of its final three games before beginning a seven-game road trip. Doc Rivers' crew has averaged 107 points in winning three of four on the trip, including a 113-92 rout at Charlotte on Monday.
Sacramento at Houston 8:00 PM ET
The Houston Rockets look to keep pace with the Memphis Grizzlies at the top of the Southwest Division standings when they welcome the Sacramento Kings to the Toyota Center on Wednesday. The Rockets have won two in a row and sit one game behind the Grizzlies for the division lead as they hope to beat the Kings for the third straight time. Houston has won the last two games in the series by an average margin of 23.5 points and aims to improve to 3-1 on its current five-game homestand.
Milwaukee at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The top two picks in the 2014 NBA Draft will face each other for the first time as professionals when Milwaukee's Jabari Parker travels to Minnesota to meet Andrew Wiggins and the Timberwolves. Before meeting in the NBA Summer League, the two young stars faced one another last Nov. 12 as college freshman, with Wiggins scoring 16 of his 22 points in the second half to lift Kansas past Jabari's Duke squad in Chicago. Parker finished with 27 points, nine rebounds and a pair of steals.
Utah at Oklahoma City 8:00 PM ET
The Oklahoma City Thunder aim to halt their longest losing streak since 2009 when they host the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. Oklahoma City has lost six straight – one fewer than the skid from five years ago – but has hope with point guard Russell Westbrook nearing a return. The Jazz are struggling with three straight defeats but pounded the Thunder 98-81 on Nov. 18 in Salt Lake City when guard Alec Burks had 20 points and a career-best 14 rebounds.
Indiana at San Antonio 8:30 PM ET
The Indiana Pacers continue to suffer adversity and respond with victories as they prepare to visit the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. The Pacers have been without three of last season’s starters due to injuries in all 14 games while starting center Roy Hibbert could miss his second straight contest with a sprained ankle. Indiana found a way to win five of its last seven after a slow start and attempts to cool off the Spurs, who are 7-1 in their last eight games.
Denver at Phoenix 9:00 PM ET
The Denver Nuggets have won five straight games to reach .500 for the first time since the second game of the season at 7-7. The road to a sixth consecutive victory and a winning record gets tougher as the Nuggets visit the Phoenix Suns on the second night of a back-to-back Wednesday. The Suns just wrapped up a 4-2 road trip and are making a brief appearance at home before heading to Denver on Friday to complete the home-and-home set.
Memphis at L.A. Lakers 10:30 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies can establish their best 15-game start in franchise history with a victory Wednesday night against the host Los Angeles Lakers. The Grizzlies are tied with the Toronto Raptors for the best record in the NBA at 12-2, the same mark they had two seasons ago before losing Game No. 15 in overtime to the San Antonio Spurs. Memphis is allowing an average of 92.4 points a game, third-lowest in the league, while the Lakers are surrendering a league-high 111.6.